A peer-reviewed study published in the International Journal of Cultural Property has highlighted significant health hazards associated with the expanding international market for mummified human remains. Researchers examined online trading activity across social media platforms, e-commerce sites, and auction houses, identifying numerous instances where preserved body parts were being bought and sold with minimal safety precautions.
The investigation of 128 online listings revealed that isolated body parts such as hands and feet were commonly offered for sale, alongside whole mummified heads and shrunken heads known as tsantsas originating from the Shuar people of Peru and Ecuador. The research found that over half of the identified items consisted of mummified heads in various states of preservation. Notably, sellers provided no safety guidance to purchasers, and many relied on postal services to transport these materials to buyers.
The study emphasizes that mummified remains, regardless of whether mummification occurred naturally or through deliberate preservation techniques, contain dormant microorganisms that can pose serious risks. Toxic substances employed historically in preservation processes, including heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, and lead, remain present in these remains. When moved or disturbed, dormant fungal spores can become airborne and create health hazards for those exposed. The researchers cited the 1970s opening of King Casimir IV’s tomb in Kraków, where inhalation of aspergillus spores contributed to the deaths of 10 out of 12 conservation scientists.
Beyond the direct risks to collectors and traders, the research highlights dangers to postal workers, warehouse staff, transportation hub employees, and customs officials who handle these packages without appropriate protective equipment. Professor Kirsty Squires of the University of Staffordshire noted that many traders appear unaware of these hazards, with some items stored in domestic settings without protective cases or proper environmental controls. The paper describes the trade as “semi-clandestine” and often illicit in nature, amplified in recent years through digital platforms.
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